If you rinsed away the colors and took the names off the front of the jerseys, even the most astute lacrosse fan would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the boys teams from Rigdefield and Brien McMahon High School.

Both squads are well-coached, comparable in size, and play fast and physical. However, it was the Tigers who made the big plays when they counted Thursday night, beating the Senators 12-9 in a vastly entertaining game at Jack Casagrande Field.

"That game could have gone either way," said McMahon coach Mike Epstein. "It was a good fight. They are the number two team in the state and we were right there with them. Hopefully, we get the chance to play them again."

The game was like a heavyweight boxing match, with each team trading thundersous shots. With the game tied at 1-1 and 5:23 left before the half, Rigefield and McMahon put on a jaw-dropping offensive display.

Matt Hirvatin scored on a beautiful, behind-the-back shot to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

Just 39 seconds later, Jack Conroy tallied the first of his four goals, when he came from behind the net and ripped one past Ridgefield goalie Adam Winne to tie the game.

After the Tigers went ahead 3-2, Scott McCormack tied it with a laser from 15 yards out to make it 3-3. It was like a video game, where neither team could be stopped.

With the game tied at 5-5 with 12 seconds to go in the half, Sean Riley smoked one past McMahon goalie Luke Aubrey to give the Tigers 6-5 halftime lead.

"It was a shootout, we just kept trading goals," said Conroy. "It was two very good teams and we were holding our own with them."

Both teams kept up the fast pace in the second half, once again trading goals.

With 10:57 to go in the third quarter, Andrew Buckanavage gave the Tigers a 7-5 lead as he beat Aubrey from in close.

Conroy asnwered 47 seconds later off a beautiful move to bring the Senators back to within one at 7-6. Griffin McCarty of Ridgefield and Ryan Scott traded goals and it was 8-7 Ridgefield with 4:25 to goal in the third quarter.

Trailing 9-7 with 1:58 to go in the quarter, McMahon was playing a man-up when Scott McCormack ripped one home to make it a one-goal game.

Enter Conroy, who was playing like a man possessed. With 9:51 to go in the contest, he came around the right-side of the net, then waited patiently for his shot before smoking one past Winne to tie the game at 9-9.

"Conroy's a big kid," said Epstein. "And he played real big tonight."

Ridgefield didn't fold, though. Instead, the Tigers made the big plays when it mattered the most.The Tigers scored three unanswered goals in a span of just under two minutes win the game, 12-9.

It was a hard-fought game, but the Senators came up just a little bit short.

"We were in it right up to the end where they got those three goals," said McMahon's Ryan Scott, who notched a goal an an assist. "It was a real heartbreaker."

Added Conroy, "It was back and forth pretty much the whole game and we stayed with them the whole way. I can't wait to see them again."